Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges against allowing politicians to manipulate the judicial system for personal or political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday in Abuja during the opening of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

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She urged heads of courts to guard against practices that could undermine judicial integrity and public confidence in the justice system.

The CJN specifically cautioned against forum shopping, concealment of related proceedings and attempts to obtain conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

She acknowledged that election-related disputes often attract intense public interest and place considerable pressure on the judiciary.

However, she insisted that judges must discharge their constitutional responsibilities with impartiality, courage and strict adherence to the law.

“Political sensitivity, public sentiment or the urgency with which a matter is presented must never displace the careful application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the applicable rules of court,” she said.

The CJN urged heads of courts to establish appropriate administrative arrangements for the timely and orderly handling of election-related cases.

She also called on judicial officers to scrutinise applications carefully, demand full disclosure of relevant facts, consider related proceedings and resist attempts to use urgent applications or ex-parte orders to secure improper advantages.

Kekere-Ekun described forum shopping as a damaging practice that undermines consistency, encourages abuse of court processes and exposes the judiciary to avoidable controversy.

She maintained that no litigant should be allowed to manipulate the judicial system in pursuit of a favourable judgment, warning that public confidence in the courts would be tested as the country approaches another election season.

The CJN further emphasised the need for heads of courts to ensure that election-related disputes are handled competently, expeditiously and in accordance with the law, without political interference.

Beyond election litigation, Kekere-Ekun identified delays in the determination of cases as one of the major challenges confronting the judiciary.

According to her, prolonged proceedings impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants, reduce the practical value of judicial remedies and weaken public confidence in the justice system.

She acknowledged that some delays result from inadequate funding, infrastructure and judicial manpower, but noted that others could be addressed through improved court administration.

The CJN identified inefficient docket management, repeated adjournments, poor scheduling and failure to monitor inactive cases as factors that unnecessarily prolong proceedings.

She urged heads of courts to maintain accurate information on pending cases, including their age, the categories experiencing the greatest delays and the reasons for their continued pendency.

Such information, she said, should guide strategies for reducing case backlogs, allocating hearing dates more effectively and ensuring that concluded matters are promptly removed from active dockets.

However, she stressed that judicial efficiency should not be measured solely by the number of cases disposed of, noting that proceedings must remain fair and protect the right to a fair hearing.

Kekere-Ekun also called for transparency and merit in judicial appointments, urging heads of courts to resist pressure from external interests.

She said appointments should be guided by objective criteria, competence, character and suitability for judicial office, adding that credible selection processes were essential to public confidence in the judiciary.

The CJN further directed heads of courts to introduce measures that would ensure judges sit at the scheduled time and that litigants and lawyers receive prompt notification whenever sittings are cancelled.

She said court officials must communicate clear sitting times, monitor compliance and address persistent or unjustified lateness through established supervisory and disciplinary procedures.

Describing it as unacceptable for lawyers and litigants to travel long distances at considerable expense only to discover that a court would not sit, she called for more dependable communication procedures.

On courtroom conduct, Kekere-Ekun said judicial authority should be exercised with fairness, composure and respect.

She maintained that every litigant deserved dignity regardless of social status, financial means or educational background, while lawyers were entitled to courteous treatment.

Earlier, NJI Administrator, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the judiciary remained under constant public scrutiny because of its responsibility as custodian of justice and guardian of the rule of law.

He said the annual roundtable provided an opportunity for heads of courts to discuss common challenges, exchange ideas and develop practical solutions to improve judicial administration.

Adejumo explained that the programme was designed to minimise external intervention, allowing participants to lead discussions and determine the outcomes.